The Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has reinstated Ravi Shastri as Team India’s head coach until the 2021 ICC World T20. Speaking on his recently-concluded tenure, the former India cricketer revealed that losing the World Cup semifinal to New Zealand was his biggest disappointment in the last two years.

Fifties from Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson helped New Zealand post 239 runs in rain-marred first innings. India bowled well on the first day to restrict the opponents to 211 runs in 46.1 overs with Taylor at the crease before rain stopped the day’s play. The Kiwis focused on singles when play resumed the next day to add another 28 runs which proved too much for Virat Kohli & Co. Matt Henry and Trent Boult starred with the ball to defend the target set by New Zealand. They removed India’s top-order batters in no time to have them at five for three. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni tried their best scoring individual half-centuries but couldn’t steer India home.

The recently-concluded World Cup was the biggest test for Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli combination. They played some outstanding cricket but said that a period of 30 minutes cost them the match. The head coach also said that the defeat was a tough pill to swallow.

“I’ll say the World Cup semifinal [biggest disappointment]. Those 30 minutes changed everything. We were right there and then it all slipped away. We played some very good cricket through the tournament. We won more matches than any other team, topped the table and that spoke of our dominance. But then, that’s sport. One bad day, one bad session and it wasn’t ours to go any further,” Ravi Shastri told TOI.

Furthermore, Ravi Shastri stressed on the upcoming three ICC tournament saying that this will be the primary focus. India have an outstanding squad in the Test and are currently number one in the rankings and will eye the World Championship.

“There are two ICC T20 tournaments over the next two years, in 2020 and 2021. The Test championship cycle has begun, so that becomes top priority,” Shastri concluded.

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